Saskatoon berries are often called "Canada‘s superfruit". They look like blueberries, taste like a cross between blueberry and cherry, and share one more thing in common: they need the same gentle handling during sorting. The drum grader that works for blueberries is equally effective for Saskatoon berries.
What Are Saskatoon Berries?
Saskatoon berries are native to the Canadian prairies, where they grow on shrubs up to 15 feet high. Indigenous peoples have harvested and enjoyed them for centuries, and today they are recognized as one of North America's most nutrient-dense berries.
In size, color, and taste, Saskatoon berries are remarkably similar to blueberries—though they have a slightly more intense, "wild" flavor. They have become the second-largest commercial fruit crop on the Canadian prairies, trailing only strawberries. Research suggests that production, processing, and export of Saskatoon berry products have strong potential for global growth—making efficient sorting increasingly important.
Why the Same Grader Works for Both Berries
Saskatoon berries and blueberries share three critical characteristics that make them suitable for the same grading equipment:
· Similar size and shape — Both are small, round berries that can be sorted by diameter
· Delicate skin — Both bruise easily and require gentle handling during sorting
· Fragile "bloom" — The natural waxy coating that signals freshness can be damaged by rough handling
A drum grader sorts by diameter—not by weight or color—making it ideal for both berries. The berries tumble gently through rotating drums with round holes of increasing sizes, and each size falls through its corresponding outlet.
How the Drum Grader Works
The Fstsort drum grader is designed to handle delicate berries with care. Here's the workflow:
· Manual feeding — Berries are fed onto the conveyor belt at a controlled rate
· Impurity removal — A fan blows away leaves, stems, and other debris
· Inspection — The conveyor belt allows workers to spot and remove damaged or secondary fruit
· Grading — Berries enter the rotating drums, which have round holes of different diameters. The smallest holes are closest to the feed inlet; hole sizes increase progressively. Each drum collects berries of a specific diameter, and they are discharged to their corresponding outlet
The result: clean, accurately graded berries, ready for packing.
Gentle Enough for Both Berries
What Matters for Delicate Berries | How the Drum Grader Protects Them |
|---|---|
Thin skin bruises easily | Soft materials at every connection and drop point prevent impact damage |
Stacked berries need individual grading | Built-in blower separates clustered berries so each is graded individually |
Bloom is fragile and easily damaged | Gentle tumbling action preserves the natural waxy coating |
Different markets need different sizes | 2–4 adjustable grades to match various market requirements |
The drum grader is widely used not only for blueberries and Saskatoon berries, but also for other small fruits like cranberries and similar-sized berries.
Built for Small to Medium Growers
The Fstsort drum grader is designed for farms and small packing houses. It features a compact footprint, flexible movement, and easy maintenance. It's also cost-effective—with replaceable drums, one machine can cover multiple size ranges without the need for additional equipment.
Fstsort has already delivered drum grading solutions to packers across multiple markets, helping small to medium growers automate their sorting without overcomplicating their operations.
Explore the full specifications on our blueberry grading machine page →